Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty: Nasal Grid Analysis and Nasal Injecting Protocol

Bertossi D, Lanaro L, Dorelan S, Johanssen K, Nocini P.

What this paper says

Across 150 consecutive filler patients treated using a nasal grid to guide quantity and injection sequence, the complication rate was 1.82 percent and 98.35 percent scored their correction 8 to 10 out of 10.

Overview

Nasal filler injection is done freehand, which makes quantity and placement inconsistent between operators. This study applied a grid overlaid on the nose as a reference for how much to inject and in what order, and reported outcomes across primary and previously operated noses.

Sections of note

150 consecutive patients from January 2016 to October 2017; mean age 36 years, range 16 to 60.
Two arms: 109 primary nasal defects with no previous surgery, and 41 secondary defects with previous surgery.
Primary group: 43 male, 66 female. Secondary group: 14 male, 27 female.
Within each arm patients were stratified into three age tiers: under 30, 30 to 45, and over 45.
The grid served as the reference for quantity and sequence of injection records.
Overall complication rate 1.82 percent.
Accuracy of correction was rated on a 1 to 10 visual analogue scale: 98.350 percent scored 8 to 10, 0.825 percent scored 6 to 8, and 0.825 percent scored below 6. Level of evidence IV, therapeutic.

What it means for a patient

A grid gives the injector a repeatable map rather than judging placement by eye.
Complications occurred in about 1 in 55 patients; the abstract does not say what they were.
The technique was used both in unoperated noses and in noses that had already had surgery.
Limits: single center, no comparison group against ungridded injection, no stated follow-up duration, and no data on how long results lasted.

Why this paper matters

Nasal filler carries the highest vascular risk of any facial injection site, so anything that standardizes placement and quantity is relevant to safety. A 150-patient protocol series with a complication rate attached is useful. The abstract does not describe the complications or the duration of effect.

Terms

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty: Reshaping the nose with injectable filler instead of surgery.
Nasal grid: A mapped reference overlaid on the nose to guide where and how much to inject.
Primary defect: A nose that has not had previous surgery.
Secondary defect: A nose that has had previous surgery.
Visual analogue scale: A line on which a rating is marked, here 1 to 10.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

From the abstract

“Nonsurgical rhinoplasty using injectable fillers improved skin quality and texture, cost-effectiveness, and quick recovery. The aim of this study was to provide a valid and customized protocol for injecting the nose with the aid of a nasal grid. Methods: From January of 2016 to October of 2017, 150 consecutive…”

Excerpt; the full abstract is on PubMed.